Cover title.
“October 2010.”
Includes bibliography (p. i-iii).
Summary: An examination of the history and nature of land disputes between various groups over pasture lands in Wardak, based on a literature review, interviews and testimonies. “In the conflict between nomadic and settled communities both are victims of political manipulation and exploitation. Various political entrepreneurs through recent Afghan history have exploited the vulnerability to conflict existing among these communities for their own personal benefit. This has created a negative cycle of vulnerabilities being exploited and as result creating further vulnerabilities. The conflict and violence is driving people further into poverty, making them more vulnerable to tangible factors such as economic shocks. The conflict and violence is also driving these communities further apart and it is creating negative experiences which are used in the propaganda against the respective communities. This makes the communities more vulnerable to intangible factors such as playing on prejudice, fears and using propaganda in the mobilization of these communities against each other. This conflict has become a national problem where it is being used as a tool towards undermining the current government and the rule of law. It has the potential to spark a civil war which could potentially destabilize the whole region. However addressing these vulnerabilities is not an impossible task. History shows that there is capacity for peace, stability, beneficial trade and friendship between these two communities. The perceived ancient and unshakable hate between these two communities is not a given fact. It is a historical product built by decades of political exploitation and manipulation. Addressing these vulnerabilities through conflict resolution and conflict transformation mechanisms has the potential to stabilize the conflict and reduce the vulnerability to conflict among these communities.” (p. 28).